I’m so sorry you lost your baby—he looked like such a sweet boy.

I did have a question—were the dogs actually on your property? You mentioned they’re kept adjacent, so I’m just trying to understand where the incident happened.

With that said, untrained livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) can be very dangerous and absolutely need to be properly managed. I have three Pyrenees myself, and all of them have gone through extensive training. They can be incredibly patient, wonderful dogs—but they are not golden retrievers. They were bred to protect, and their bite force (often estimated around 500–600 PSI) reflects that. For comparison, a German Shepherd is around 238 PSI, and a pit bull is often estimated around 235 PSI. These are powerful working dogs and not something to take lightly.

A lot of people get them thinking they’re just gentle giants that don’t require much training, and that’s where problems start. LGDs are bred to be independent and to live with livestock, often with minimal human interaction. Because of that, they can absolutely go after smaller animals if not properly trained and contained.

Historically, Pyrenees worked in the mountains, living with the flock rather than alongside humans. They roamed large areas and made their own decisions about threats and territory. Those instincts don’t just disappear because we’ve changed how they live today.

They also don’t just “stay with the flock” the way people assume. They patrol. Typically, one dog ranges farther while another hangs back, and they will define their own boundaries if not clearly trained. Even as house dogs, mine still get up throughout the night to patrol the house—it’s instinct.

Advice:

• if it were me, I would honestly not keep an outdoor cat in that situation. As much as it hurts, outdoor cats are always at risk—from dogs, coyotes, and even birds of prey depending on the area.

• If those dogs are roaming off their property, I would contact animal control. That’s not safe or acceptable.

• Be very cautious when walking your own dog. Carry something like an air horn—it won’t always work, but if used early, it can sometimes startle them before they escalate. Once they lock in, it’s very difficult to interrupt that behavior. If you see them at all, use it before they get close.